noun
distaff
A staff that holds flax or wool during spinning.
She draws wool from the distaff as she spins yarn.
Etymology
The Old English word already names the spinning implement. It holds the unspun fibers ready for the spinner to draw them out into thread.
More examples
- The spinner wraps a bundle of flax around the distaff.
- A wooden distaff keeps the loose fibers within reach.
- The museum displays distaffs alongside spinning wheels.
Forms
distaff · distaffs